P.Vals back

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Well,I am more worried about the knee than the more popular(to talk about)drug issue.I've watched him ride for over 25 years,and 98% of the time,I thought his rides were totally top rate.The other 2 % were rides during his first couple days back from a layoff(that is not when to play him,) and when he tried to come back from(fighting the pain from) an injury(foot maybe.)If he acted like a drug addict (at the track,) I'd be the 1st to say he shouldn't be out there.People on drugs (at work) aren't productive,or are too inconsistent(or careless.) They don't produce.This has not been the way he acts at work.If he was as careless or inconsistent as somebody like Arroyo has sometimes been,then I could see the interest in banning him.To be honest,this guy is only useful(to society) when he is riding.I'm much more interested in whether he is gunna be riding with a body that will allow him to give everybody involved a good fair ride.People should be worried about whether he is totally healthy,because I have seen him ride while suffering with an injury.It does affect his performance(I don't think drugs do.)We can test him for drugs.We can't test him to make sure his body is good enough to hold up.I think if Solis is allowed to be out there riding(like a scared woman,) then it's pretty hard to say somebody else shouldn't be out there.

[cowgirlintexas]

Looks like he may be riding at Hollywood by this Friday.

Quoted from DRF.
"Valenzuela may ride here Friday

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has not ridden in California since Thanksgiving weekend of 2006, may ride at Hollywood Park this weekend, according to his attorney, Neil Papiano, and agent, Tom Knust.

Valenzuela is currently riding at Zia Park in New Mexico and is seeking a conditional license from the California Horse Racing Board that will allow him to ride in this state. Papiano said Sunday that he intended to review the terms of the license over the weekend and thought an agreement could be reached in time for Valenzuela to be named on horses for Friday evening's program. Entries for Friday were expected to be drawn on Tuesday.

Papiano met briefly with Hollywood Park stewards on Sunday to discuss Valenzuela's situation.

Valenzuela, 45, has ridden under a conditional license in California in recent years that has allowed the racing board to conduct random drug testing.

Knust had hoped that Valenzuela could be back at Hollywood Park on Wednesday after missing the first week of the meeting.

Valenzuela was sidelined last November after suffering a rib injury. He subsequently underwent knee surgery, which has kept him sidelined until he returned to riding at Zia Park on Nov. 3.

"He wants to ride here in California," Knust said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to be named on Friday or Saturday and Sunday."

Through Sunday, Valenzuela had ridden 3 winners from 19 mounts at Zia Park."


Does'nt look like he's doing so well at Zia Park

Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by GPK

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants
Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

Somebody does this every time the guys name comes up leaving me feeling like I missed the gaping holes in Mike Smith's career.

Hall of fame rider with over 4000 wins, has won a Derby, Preakness, about 10 Breeders Cup races and another 50 G1 stakes over 25 years.

A couple of eclipse awards, riding titles at all 3 NY meets seversl times.

I don't get it....did this guy have a Bill Buckner moment that I was sleeping for, Did he vote for McGovern?, give millions to Save OJ? or get caught throwing races.

It's kind of like an inside joke....this time it's Kev a couple of months ago Bogey had a "Are you Kidding me" comment when someone defended Smith.

Don't get me wrong I am not being critical of any who have posted a critical sentence about Smith I just don't get what the guy has done to be the Jeff George of jockey's!!!

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by docicu3

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants
Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

Somebody does this every time the guys name comes up leaving me feeling like I missed the gaping holes in Mike Smith's career.

Hall of fame rider with over 4000 wins, has won a Derby, Preakness, about 10 Breeders Cup races and another 50 G1 stakes over 25 years.

A couple of eclipse awards, riding titles at all 3 NY meets seversl times.

I don't get it....did this guy have a Bill Buckner moment that I was sleeping for, Did he vote for McGovern?, give millions to Save OJ? or get caught throwing races.

It's kind of like an inside joke....this time it's Kev a couple of months ago Bogey had a "Are you Kidding me" comment when someone defended Smith.

Don't get me wrong I am not being critical of any who have posted a critical sentence about Smith I just don't get what the guy has done to be the Jeff George of jockey's!!!

Lose on some win tickets and fail to be predictable on when his mount will win. It's Alex Solis for me.

[The Bid]

Mike Smith wont go inside anymore

[GPK]

Originally Posted by docicu3

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants
Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

Somebody does this every time the guys name comes up leaving me feeling like I missed the gaping holes in Mike Smith's career.

Hall of fame rider with over 4000 wins, has won a Derby, Preakness, about 10 Breeders Cup races and another 50 G1 stakes over 25 years.

A couple of eclipse awards, riding titles at all 3 NY meets seversl times.

I don't get it....did this guy have a Bill Buckner moment that I was sleeping for, Did he vote for McGovern?, give millions to Save OJ? or get caught throwing races.

It's kind of like an inside joke....this time it's Kev a couple of months ago Bogey had a "Are you Kidding me" comment when someone defended Smith.

Don't get me wrong I am not being critical of any who have posted a critical sentence about Smith I just don't get what the guy has done to be the Jeff George of jockey's!!!

That wasnt meant as a slam towards Mike Smith as more question Pillow listing him on there...as I believe it was Pillow that had Mike's face as his avatar for a while and wouldnt take it down until he won a certain amount of races.

I could be wrong...could have been someone other than Pillow.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GPK

That wasnt meant as a slam towards Mike Smith as more question Pillow listing him on there...as I believe it was Pillow that had Mike's face as his avatar for a while and wouldnt take it down until he won a certain amount of races.

I could be wrong...could have been someone other than Pillow.

It was Pillow and it was the start of the Pillow Era

[Metal Man]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Gomez, Leparoux, Bejarano, PVal, T. Baze, Talamo, Mike Smith..

A solid colony.

Wonder how long it will take Cory Nakatani to pick a fight with P Val after he comes back and you all know he's coming back.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Metal Man

Wonder how long it will take Cory Nakatani to pick a fight with P Val after he comes back and you all know he's coming back.

Maybe two days? Three?

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Maybe two days? Three?

It's going to get tuff to get alot of good mounts with the new addition to the jockeys room.

[fpsoxfan]

Please let him ride, otherwise ESPN may hire him to work with Jerry Bailey.

Mike is a shadow of his former self but the guy brought home a 2k pick 4 for me at Toga in '06. The will pay on his horse was at least double of the other 3 horses I had on my $54 ticket.

I'll always have love for him.